Controversial X Factor finalist Rylan Clark appeared to be making the most of the limelight when he stepped out for a haircut, as vocal coach David Grant blasted the singer.

Rylan Clark went for yet another new look as he had his hair done by X Factor stylist Jamie Stevens (Picture: Beretta/Sims/Rex Features)

The 23-year-old had already swapped the long blond locks he was sporting at his audition for short dark hair – which he had fashioned into yet another different style as he visited X Factor stylist Jamie Stevens at his salon in Kensington.

And he seemed to be lapping up the attention as he had the sides of his head shaved, and the front part of his hair arranged into a long fringe which fell over his face.

Fellow contestant Lucy Spraggan also joined him at the salon, while Rylan let his Twitter followers know what he was up to.

‘It’s makeover day and I’m with the lovely @jamiestevens and he’s got the clippers out,’ he tweeted.

Sir Ian McKellen has revealed himself to be an unlikely fan of the X Factor finalist (Picture: Xposurephotos.com)

Meanwhile, Rylan has found himself an unlikely new friend, in the shape of Lord Of The Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen .

According to The Sun, McKellen – who plays Gandalf in the hit franchise – told Rylan he was a ‘huge fan’ of his when they met at the Attitude Awards earlier this week.

‘Sir Ian McKellen of all people came up to him and said he hoped he did well on the show,’ a source told the paper.

‘They swapped numbers and Rylan couldn’t believe his luck when Sir Ian said he’d be happy to offer him some advice.’

But not everybody is such a big fan of Rylan with Fame Academy vocal coach David Grant being the latest to step in and blast the Essex boy – calling him ‘unbelievably fame-hungry’.

Speaking on Sky News Grant – who coached Carolynne Poole when she was a contestant on the BBC One show – said. ‘You have had in the many years of X Factor many people desperate for success.

‘But this is the first person I have ever seen that would dress up and cross the street to be at the opening of an envelope.

‘Rylan is the man who has had the greatest songwriter of our generation told he is deaf by someone who manages Jedward,’ he added. ‘Every time you think X Factor is a talent show, something like this happens to remind us that it’s not.’